Tony Franklin Named EL Manager of the Year
Franklin, in his sixth year with the Thunder, was presented the award at a press conference at Waterfront Park on Thursday, August 30.
This season, Franklin and the Thunder have clinched a postseason berth and are in first place in the Eastern Division with a 77-60 record with five games remaining. Franklin's coaching staff this season includes pitching coach Tommy Phelps, hitting coach Tom Slater, coach Luis Dorante, athletic trainer Scott DiFrancesco and strength and conditioning coach Kaz Manabe.
On June 2 2012, Franklin recorded his 1,000th regular season win as a Minor League Manager (17 seasons, 7 teams). His career regular season record now stands at 1,047-952 including a record of 466-377 with Trenton. Franklin guided Trenton to the Eastern League Championship title in 2007 and 2008, an EL Championship Series appearance in 2010 and a playoff berth this season. The 2008 EL Championship was Franklin's third title as manager. In 1993, he led South Bend (Single-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox) to the Midwest League title.
Prior to his time in Trenton, Franklin spent most of the last 11 years as the Minor League Infield Instructor for the San Diego Padres. His managerial career began with the White Sox organization as the manager for Geneva (NY) of the New York-Penn League in 1982. Franklin spent four seasons in Geneva, making the playoffs in 1985. After one season with Wytheville (Appalachian League), he guided the White Sox affiliate in the Florida State League, the Sarasota White Sox, to a playoff appearance in 1989. Franklin spent two years as the skipper of the Birmingham Barons of the Southern League, including 81 wins in 1991 and a berth in the Championship Series.
Franklin is the second Thunder manager to win the yearly award, joining Demarlo Hale in 1999. Three players have won EL season awards with the most recent being Brandon Laird winning the Eastern League MVP and Rookie of the Year awards in 2010. Two Thunder pitchers, Carl Pavano (1996) and Alan Horne (2007), have won the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year Award.
The Manager of the Year Award is voted on by Eastern League team managers, sportswriters, radio and television broadcast personnel and other members of the media.
Trenton plays the home schedule finale tonight against New Britain at 7:05pm and will conclude the regular season with a four game series at Binghamton this Friday through Monday. Trenton has clinched a playoff spot and will begin the ELDS on Wednesday, September 5, location TBD. Playoff Tickets are available by calling 609-394-3300 or online at trentonthunder.com.